OP Russian Air Force 1941

[TheeWarLord]

Greetings,
What’s with the Russian fighters mauling my bombers on t3, and t4. I wiped out 3600 hundred Russian aircraft on t1.
Resumed air operations on t3 and t4 and suffered horrendous bomber and aircraft losses on a handful of air missions. I understand you should escort your missions, but this was way too OP. Additionally, I was not engaged in any air missions deep in Russian territory, just a few air interdiction and bombing missions near the front line. I suffered more losses on t3, than t1, despite running thousands of sorties on t1.
The Russian AF, should be licking their wounds for a least a year. Historically, the Russian was ineffective for the rest of 1941, and only selectively contested airspace in a few places in ‘42, and contesting and having air superiority in’43. Just wanted to know what other players opinions are on this.

[56ajax]

Firstly remember that even after T1 losses the Soviet Airforce is still three times larger than the Axis.

And the air war in this game is not fit for purpose.

[TheeWarLord]

Interesting, but aren’t the remaining Soviet AF, for the most part obsolete? I really enjoy combined arms operations. I’ll hug my escorts, and see if there is a difference. Thanks for the reply.

[Wiedrock]

Unescorted bombers get shredded by the worst of the worst of fighter planes with the lowest EXP pilots imaginable.
Unfortunately, Bomber formations also seem to not rly know how to use their defensive armaments so this is likely something that one can forget about.
Changing single factors you may be able to reduce losses slightly, like with altitudes or different bombers but you will still lose many.


You have to have escorts at all times.

[K62_]

Historically the Do 17 and the Ju 88 were explicitly designed to be too fast for the Soviet I-types to intercept: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schnellbomber

A flight of I-15s intercepting a Ju 88 squadron should rarely be able to even fire any shots at them.

[AlbertN]

By how the Air War is designed, the Soviet Airforce performs amazingly well, can coordinate massive strikes in '41, and their fighters will butcher the Luftwaffe bombers if caught unescorted.

For what concerns ground support, numbers matter. So while the Stukas will explode horribly due to Russian flak and do little and nothing, the Russian bombers will impact better their defensive operations in ground support.

Let's say that in general the 'Air War' is one if not the most botched aspect of WITE2.

[TheeWarLord]

On topic, what would be more effective for bomber protection, establishing air superiority
over your bombing targets or straight escorts?

[56ajax]

Interesting, but aren’t the remaining Soviet AF, for the most part obsolete? I really enjoy combined arms operations. I’ll hug my escorts, and see if there is a difference. Thanks for the reply.

Obsolete, yes but so is the Axis. Stukas and BF110s; the latter can be used as a fighter well into the war with impressive results, but historically they were withdrawn from this role in 1942.

From the Soviet perspective I use transports the most for resupply. And some recon, and if I can isolate the Axis Allies airforce may do more.

Some just save up the airforce until eg 1943 then use it as a blunt instrument.

And the most important criteria is pilot experience.